Hands-On With a Rough iPhone Fold Mockup

[okkibs]

I’m sorry but how are two main cameras even remotely acceptable on a device that’s going to be just as much of a flagship as an iPhone 17 Pro if not even more expensive? Either the zoom camera or the wide angle camera is missing here. I am not replacing my iPhone with a newer more expensive one that’s a camera downgrade.

In addition to that the rumored loss of Face ID is another significant drawback. I want the bigger folding screen but I am not willing to give up any existing functionality. For $1999 I want a foldable that retains 100% of the functionality of the iPhone 17 Pro which costs almost half that.

 

[jclardy]

I like it. Mainly because it means we are actually going to get a thought out use case for the device, unlike the slop of foldables we currently have, where you have a normal phone when closed, plus when you open it, it is two phone apps side by side, or an unusable square display that has no apps designed for it, video content is displayed exactly the same size as if you rotated the outer display to landscape (Because of physics and every video being 16:9.)

 

[bloomfeld]

Rumors suggest that Apple spent a lot of time and effort creating a hinge that will make the crease between the two halves of the device almost invisible.

It won't be invisible. We call it "Dynamic Crack". Can't innovate my cleavage!

 

[ascender]

The only folding device I've seen so far which is of interest to me is the Samsung Tri-Fold as it gives you a much more practical aspect ratio of a screen to use for watching videos.

 

[1037]

Seems that the fanboys are the only ones who want this thing.

 

[NLLV]

Anyone else super unenthusiastic about this?
If I am carrying one device, I certainly do not want to give up face ID, or have worse cameras.
And if I am going to pay over $2000 for that, this breaks the deal towards NO BUY even more.

 

[Macalway]

Apple is making a Samsung clone. Samsung should be worried, as even though it will be more expensive, the fan-boy base has been proven to to pay just about anything, and Apple's marketing machine is unstoppable, as we all know.

(Beat that AI!)

 

[The Game 161]

I’m sorry but how are two main cameras even remotely acceptable on a device that’s going to be just as much of a flagship as an iPhone 17 Pro if not even more expensive? Either the zoom camera or the wide angle camera is missing here. I am not replacing my iPhone with a newer more expensive one that’s a camera downgrade.

In addition to that the rumored loss of Face ID is another significant drawback. I want the bigger folding screen but I am not willing to give up any existing functionality. For $1999 I want a foldable that retains 100% of the functionality of the iPhone 17 Pro which costs almost half that.

Lets not act like iPhone pro cameras are anything special

It will have two good cameras and what you’re paying for is all the other areas ire better than a slab device not just cameras

 

[The Game 161]

Seems that the fanboys are the only ones who want this thing.

People who want to do more on their phone is who want this. Slab phones are just basic these days and cameras are just not that great either on iPhones

 

[The Game 161]

Anyone else super unenthusiastic about this?
If I am carrying one device, I certainly do not want to give up face ID, or have worse cameras.
And if I am going to pay over $2000 for that, this breaks the deal towards NO BUY even more.

You may get slightly less cameras but better evrrything else.

Depends how much you use telephoto and how much you value the iPhone camera.

I expect all other tasks will be better on the fold

 

[The Game 161]

I’m sorry but how are two main cameras even remotely acceptable on a device that’s going to be just as much of a flagship as an iPhone 17 Pro if not even more expensive? Either the zoom camera or the wide angle camera is missing here. I am not replacing my iPhone with a newer more expensive one that’s a camera downgrade.

In addition to that the rumored loss of Face ID is another significant drawback. I want the bigger folding screen but I am not willing to give up any existing functionality. For $1999 I want a foldable that retains 100% of the functionality of the iPhone 17 Pro which costs almost half that.

All you will be missing is telephoto and better main sensor. Battery life could be better than pro phones and the new variable aperture is said to be pro max only anyway

 

[The Game 161]

If this thing is more than $1600 without a “Pro” camera system, then it’s essentially dead in the water for me. Two reasons:

I want the best and for me that mostly means camera. Not having telephoto is a dealbreaker at this time and price point.

If this thing is going to be this strange form factor where it’s actually smaller than an iPad mini and all Android foldables, then they can’t charge more than $1600 IMO and still expect it to sell well after the initial demand wears off. Especially if it ends of having other trade offs like durability, overall thickness, battery life, and limited water resistance.

Otherwise I may get one eventually, but only once they work out more of the likely trade offs, add the telephoto, and offer some kind of three or four year iPhone Upgrade Program for these crazy $2000 phones because two years is too short for upgrading that. We’ll see what they offer but I doubt they’ll get me to buy one before 2030.

The device is going to be like 9.5mm and 4.5mm opened. That's not bulky for one and battery will likely be bigger than pro max

So all your missing is variable aperture and telephoto lens. You're going to be able to do far more on the device than regular pro so not just well cameras

Also it's likely pro max will get the variable not the pro

iPhone cameras have never impressed me tl a point where people are going to miss much on foldable iPhone

 

[deuxani]

People comment like this is what it will actually look like. First off, this mockup is based on 17 Pro look, even though it’s glaringly obvious it will be based on the look of the Air. The actual product will be much slicker than this mockup.

Like this: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...up.2475335/page-2?post=34355805#post-34355805

 

[MacBH928]

If steve jobs was to be resurrected and saw this software+hardware combo he will commit hari kari

 

[testcard]

My concern is what the hinge/crease will look like after a couple of years of regular use, particularly with dust and pocket debris trapped between the two halves.

 

[transpo1]

Anyone else super unenthusiastic about this?
If I am carrying one device, I certainly do not want to give up face ID, or have worse cameras.
And if I am going to pay over $2000 for that, this breaks the deal towards NO BUY even more.

I'm actually getting more and more excited about it, as long as they do give us a genuine iPadOS experience when unfolded. The two camera only thing is a problem since I'm a filmmaker and use my phone as a recording device quite a bit, so we'll see how much the software features can tempt me away from buying a Pro instead...

 

[Lioness~]

hari kari

An alive Steve Jobs at his best woul'd more likely fired Tim Cook - and wonder why in #### he gave away Apple to him, and went dying 🙁

 

[Zubba]

If Apple did go with these dimensions I think it's far more likely the hinge runs the other way, making a tall/thin closed device.

 

[okkibs]

If I am carrying one device, I certainly do not want to give up face ID, or have worse cameras.

Exactly. No telephoto lens is a dealbreaker on its own and so is not having Face ID. I am in the target audience for a foldable iPhone but let's not forget it will compete with the iPhone 18 Pro. Why don't they remove Magsafe while they're at it and disable shooting log video as well?

Between paying extra to give up functionality and paying nothing and keeping the 17 Pro I'd rather keep that. But if it does 100% of what the 17 Pro offers I am happy to pay 2 grand for it on launch day.

as long as they do give us a genuine iPadOS experience when unfolded.

Well it can't because it's not running iPadOS. It will receive optimizations yet it's unlikely it will have all the iPadOS functionality. I bet the available UI modes are much more limited if there is any choices at all. The dock that's on iPadOS might not exist and neither might be features like split screen or pencil support. Apple always separates these devices just enough that you still need to own one of each device. It won't be a full iPad replacement.

 

[The Game 161]

Exactly. No telephoto lens is a dealbreaker on its own and so is not having Face ID. I am in the target audience for a foldable iPhone but let's not forget it will compete with the iPhone 18 Pro. Why don't they remove Magsafe while they're at it and disable shooting log video as well?

Between paying extra to give up functionality and paying nothing and keeping the 17 Pro I'd rather keep that. But if it does 100% of what the 17 Pro offers I am happy to pay 2 grand for it on launch day.


Well it can't because it's not running iPadOS. It will receive optimizations yet it's unlikely it will have all the iPadOS functionality. I bet the available UI modes are much more limited if there is any choices at all. The dock that's on iPadOS might not exist and neither might be features like split screen or pencil support. Apple always separates these devices just enough that you still need to own one of each device. It won't be a full iPad replacement.

There’s zero chance it won’t have basically what iPad OS offers.

If it doesn’t have

Spilt screen
Window type multitasking
Taskbar

Then it’s not a foldable and it’s no different to a slab phone

What will likely happen is there will be fold OS software label and all the new features that support Foldables won’t be available on the pro line or base iPhones and therefore will give it a big advantage over regular iPhones

I would get the telephoto being a big deal if the telephoto on the pros was anything great but it’s really not. Certainly in low light it’s a mess

Going from Face ID to Touch ID is no downgrade either. We accept Face ID as that’s all we have but it’s a pain to use on a desk or table. Using Touch ID as long as it’s on side don’t feel any different

 

[darngooddesign]

I like it. Mainly because it means we are actually going to get a thought out use case for the device, unlike the slop of foldables we currently have, where you have a normal phone when closed, plus when you open it, it is two phone apps side by side, or an unusable square display that has no apps designed for it,

Two things:
1. Apps are mostly responsive which means they are designed to work with all screen shapes.
2. Based on this mockup the folded screen is almost square which means by your logic there are no apps for the iPhonebook.

video content is displayed exactly the same size as if you rotated the outer display to landscape (Because of physics and every video being 16:9.)

I agree that if all you do is watch videos then those foldables probably aren't for you.

 

[jole]

There’s zero chance it won’t have basically what iPad OS offers.

What will likely happen is there will be fold OS software label and all the new features that support Foldables won’t be available on the pro line or base iPhones and therefore will give it a big advantage over regular iPhones

Make sense. ios and ipados are pretty much the same code base with a bit different set of features enabled. I think the likeliest naming is to keep calling it iOS. Just enable iPad windowing features when running on a foldable phone in a screen.

 

[transpo1]

Exactly. No telephoto lens is a dealbreaker on its own and so is not having Face ID. I am in the target audience for a foldable iPhone but let's not forget it will compete with the iPhone 18 Pro. Why don't they remove Magsafe while they're at it and disable shooting log video as well?

Between paying extra to give up functionality and paying nothing and keeping the 17 Pro I'd rather keep that. But if it does 100% of what the 17 Pro offers I am happy to pay 2 grand for it on launch day.


Well it can't because it's not running iPadOS. It will receive optimizations yet it's unlikely it will have all the iPadOS functionality. I bet the available UI modes are much more limited if there is any choices at all. The dock that's on iPadOS might not exist and neither might be features like split screen or pencil support. Apple always separates these devices just enough that you still need to own one of each device. It won't be a full iPad replacement.

Well, it can but they have to give it those features with a special version of iOS, which they will probably do. For a price tag of nearly $2500, Apple can afford to cannibalize an iPad because the price tag is nearly equal to an iPhone + iPad Air. And because the screen size on the Fold will be relatively small, there’s no way it will replace the functionality of a full size iPad for someone who really needs one.

 

[blairh]

Considering the iPone Air is 5.6 mm thin and has a 6.5" and the 17 pro a 6.3" display and the smallest screen iPhone you can currently buy new is the iPhone 16 with a 6.1" screen. Why would Apple ever release a phone with a 5.4" screen in 2026. The unfolded unit you are talking about is only 1.1" bigger than the iPhone Air. It makes no sense as a commercially viable product.
Apple always waits and makes a better product. this is certainly not that.

It’s a completely different aspect ratio. It’s short and wide. Nothing like the Air.

 

[lemonaed]

I've used the Galaxy Fold series. For me, the idea is great, one device to replace a phone and a small tablet, that sort I’d thing. But I'll only use a foldable if it's as reliable as a slab phone, which seems impossible at this point